Champions League: Mladost close to made an upset in Czech Republic, Olympiacos and Benfica respect the predictions and go to 3rd Round

Mladost Zagreb were close to made an upset in Czech Republic in the rematch of the 2nd qualifying round of the 2022 CEV Volleyball Champions League.
However, ČEZ Karlovarsko went further with a new victory.
After the first match in Zagreb in which the guests were better 3-1, Mladost found themselves in a very difficult position, having to win at least with the same score. And they started in a perfect way, winning the first two sets both 25:18. Even though Karlovarsko reached 2-1 in sets, Mladost had a huge opportunity to go to the Golden Set. Namely, they led 23-18 in the fourth set.
After Karlovarsko tied at 2-2, the fifth set was a formality and wad won by to the home team. Patrik Indra was the top scorer in Karlovarsko with 24 points, while Slovakian Jakub Ihnát served four aces, while Adam Zajíček set up four blocks.

On their home court in Greece, Olympiacos Piraeus secured the progression to the next round by achieving a straight-set victory over Slovakia’s Rieker UJS Komárno. Given they lost only one set in the first match away, the winners wanted to finish off the rivals as soon as possible in the rematch, and they did it. Serbian Nikola Mijailović was the top scorer for Olympiacos with 12 points.

Portugal’s Sport Lisboa e Benfica is the third team qualified for the 3rd and last qualifying round. After beating Ford Levoranta Sastamala (VaLePa) at home 3-0 in the first leg, they traveled to Finland for the second leg, lose the first set, but easily won the following three sets. Hugo Gaspar and Brazilian Flávio Soares ’Zelão’ poured in 12 points each for the winners, while Austrian Peter Wohlfahrtstätter made four blocks.

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| CEV Champions League Volley 2022 – 2nd Round | 1st leg

| October 20, 2021
• Hebar Pazardzhik (Bul) – Shakhtior Soligorsk (Blr) 2-3 (22:25, 25:15, 25:14, 19:25, 9:15)
• Rieker UJS Komarno (Svk) – Olympiacos Piraeus (Gre) 1-3 (25:22, 38:40, 21:25, 22:25)
• Mladost Zagreb (Cro) – CEZ Karlovarsko (Cze) 1-3 (25:21, 17:25, 24:26, 8:25)

| October 21, 2021
• Sport Lisboa e Benfica (Por) – Ford Levoranta Sastamala (Fin) 3-0 (25:23, 25:21, 25:18)

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| CEV Champions League Volley 2022 – 2nd Round | 2nd leg

| October 27, 2021
• Olympiacos Piraeus (Gre) – Rieker UJS Komarno (Svk) 3-0 (25:21, 25:19, 31:29)

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• Ford Levoranta Sastamala (Fin) – Sport Lisboa e Benfica (Por) 1-3 (27:25, 20:25, 21:25, 15:25)

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• CEZ Karlovarsko (Cze) – Mladost Zagreb (Cro) 3-2 (18:25, 18:25, 25:19, 27:25, 15:9)

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| October 28
• Shakhtior Soligorsk (Blr) – Hebar Pazardzhik (Bul) 1-3 (25:15, 21:25, 16:25, 22:25)

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